is a beautiful

girl

swimming

smooth strokes through the water

how did she learn to do that?

was it me?

was it you?

was it the strength of all our recessive

genes?

we would say everything

she did was beautiful

and that would be true

but we were

her family

and now

that she has slipped

through the waters

with her confident stroke

not paddling

awkwardly like a child

when i was a child…i thought like a child

reasoned like a…

child

come back!

you can do flip turns

with your eyes closed

come back–

do not

put childish ways behind you–

I need you here

cannot

think

of the world

one day without you

even though I know–

believe–

that we do see

but a poor reflection

(as in a mirror)

then we

shall

see

face to face

Again.

(tiny voice)

still small voice…

come back–